The only problem was that there was something off about this new couple. Something Kerry couldn’t quite put her finger on. From the moment they’d walked in the door, she’d felt the tension between them. Kerry didn’t expect the men and women she worked with to agree on everything. But not being able to find common ground on any of the dozen preliminary questions she’d asked them? Honestly, there were times when it had been almost painful to be in the same room with them.

She often saw brides and grooms disagree with their mothers or future mothers-in-law, but usually the bride and groom were on the same team. How, she’d found herself wondering, had these two even reached the point of becoming engaged? And even if they did end up agreeing on enough to make it to the wedding, did they stand a chance of making it past that?

Kerry knew what her mother would have done. Aileen Dromoland would have politely but firmly informed the couple that she was not the right wedding planner for them. And her mother would have been perfectly sure that she’d made the right decision.

But what if there was something Kerry was missing? What if the couple had simply had a rotten morning just like hers, and were normally loving with each other? Or what if she was simply projecting her own frustration onto them?

Because the truth was that she was still more than a little upset about the way her one incredible night with Adam had been cut short so abruptly.

As if he could read her mind, his name popped up on her cell phone as it began ringing on her desk.

She’d been wrecked by the time he’d left last night and had expected to fall asleep the second she hit the bed. Instead, as soon as she’d closed her eyes, her brain had taken her back to the hotel bed she’d shared with him just hours before for a slow-motion replay of every sexy moment.

Even thinking about it now had her barely stifling a little moan. Adam had been so amazing, so far beyond any sexual experience she’d ever had before.

It would have been so easy to believe that there’d been more than just sex between them, even before he’d pitched in to help her with her sister. She could have told herself that the way he’d kissed her, the way he’d caressed her, had seemed to transcend “just sex.” Fortunately, however, she knew all those orgasms could easily mess with a girl’s head and heart, even a heart like hers that was so carefully guarded from anyone but the man who would eventually be her one true love. Just as soon as she met that guy, of course.

Still, for all her rationalizations and reminders, her belly still fluttered as she picked up his call. “Adam, hi.”

“Kerry.” She liked the way he said her name, a little low and rumbly. Liked it more than she should. “How’s your sister feeling today?”

Yet again, he surprised her with how sweet he could be. Probably, she figured again, it came down to his mother raising him right. Claudia Sullivan was surely a very interesting woman, and Kerry greatly looked forward to finally meeting her at Rafe and Brooke’s wedding, even if it would likely take a heck of a lot of work to hide her affair with Adam from his mother.

“Just as you’d expect,” Kerry told him. “She has a splitting headache and pretty much feels like dirt.” Colleen hadn’t seemed to remember the things she’d said about how cold Kerry was. But all of that was better forgotten, even if there were never going to be any apologies coming. “Hopefully by the time she heads in to her emergency-dispatch job tonight, she’ll be back to her usual self.” And hopefully she wouldn’t hit the repeat button again next Friday night.

“And how are you?”

Kerry barely kept the words Better now that you’ve called from falling out. “A little tired, but I was actually just about to call to thank you again for everything you did to help last night.”

“How many times do I have to tell you to stop thanking me?”

She’d particularly liked the way he’d stopped her last night, with a kiss that had melted down her brain one cell at a time.

“Now,” he said before she could even try to answer his question, “for the other reason I’m calling.”

Ugh, this is it. The part where he said, Thanks for a few hot hours in the sack, but your situation is way too complicated, so let’s call it done now. She’d agree with him, of course, and wouldn’t ever let on that she felt otherwise. In fact, now that she thought about it, wouldn’t it be better if she were the one to end things first?

But before she could, he was saying, “Do you have a wedding next Friday night?”

Surprise had her answering before thinking better of it. “No, not next Friday.”

“Good.” His voice had lowered even more, the one word so warm and sexy she felt as if he’d reached out through the phone to touch her. “How about keeping it free for me and another fun hotel visit?”

Her heart skipped, leapt, sang! And her smile was so big that she was glad he couldn’t see it. Not when it gave away far too clearly just how thrilled she was to know that he didn’t want to stop their sexy no-strings fling just yet.

Soon, she knew it would end. But any woman who had experienced the kind of pleasure he’d given her would have wanted more. She wasn’t weak for wanting him again, she was simply human. Human enough, evidently, that she continually had to remind herself that it was just sex. Really phenomenal sex, of course, but just sex nonetheless.

She was about to agree, when she remembered. “Colleen and I were talking about staying in, watching a movie, and eating pizza together next Friday. That’s the night that’s always the hardest for her.”